LLOG moves on Buckskin development

LLOG Exploration Co. is moving forward to develop its Buckskin project in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, signing a deal with Seadrill for the West Neptune to begin work later this year.

West Neptune. Image from Seadrill.

Buckskin is in 6800ft water depth in Keathley Canyon, and extends over six blocks: 785, 828, 829, 830, 871 and 872. The field is estimated to hold nearly 5 billion bbl.

“Buckskin is a unique opportunity for LLOG,” says Scott Gutterman, LLOG president and CEO.

Work is scheduled to begin in Q4 2017 with Seadrill's West Neptune drilling rig, which was recently contracted to perform the initial Buckskin work that will include drilling and completing two wells.

LLOG revealed that the company also ordered several long-lead items for the topsides and is well positioned to achieve first production at Buckskin in 2H 2019.

“We have also ordered a number of key subsea equipment items from TechnipFMC for the Buckskin Project,” says Gutterman.

The Buckskin project will use equipment rated to 15,000psi and will utilize dual 8in flowlines with riser base gas lift.

Buckskin has been delineated by multiple prior wells and will be a 6mi subsea tieback to the Anadarko-operated Lucius Spar.

The Keathley Canyon 872 #1 discovery well at Buckskin was drilled by Repsol in 2009 to a depth of 29,404ft and encountered some 400ft of net pay in the Upper and Lower Wilcox formations. Three subsequent appraisal wells drilled in Keathley Canyon 785 and 829 encountered an average of 375ft of high quality oil pay in the Upper Wilcox.